My sincerest condolences Conrad. It is quite clear from your post that 'you are one of us' and do not see "pets" as animals but basically the better part of what humans could be. To all of us, losing a 'short member of the family' is impossible to describe. I have had two dogs in my life and had to put both down; the first when my kids were still fairly young, and it was absolutely an terrible phase of our lives. I could not shake the thought that in the end, the only thing the little fellls and gals count on is for us to basically keep them alive and each one of us will fail at that eventually. Normally I am not morbid that that thought followed me around for weeks... maybe months.
Funny thing I have found about pets is that they do not even have to be 'mine' to be a pet. My brother had a Doberman that was just a wonderful dog and he and I were the best of pals; I cannot imagine we would be any closer had he been my own pet.
So again, my deepest sympathies to you and your family on losing one of your own.
On a slightly different note: we lost our last dog about 4 years ago and between riding and house work, we decided not to get any more pets for a while. But my wife is terrified that I am going to bring something furry home and we both know she will just not have it in her to reject the animal.... and I will not have to do a thing, just ask if she wants me to take it away, at which point it will live here forever. :-) So far I have not nor do I intend to do so but just maybe one day, that certain mutt will cross my path, need a home and be sleeping in our bed about a week after establishing all the rules that prohibit that very thing.
You are a good man Conrad; schmucks do not agonize over the loss of any animal (and a lot of people) in my experience.
Brian (who thinks most of my very favorite people are dogs....)
A light has gone out in my life and the world is a darker place for it.
<snip>